Waters and Atkinson Chartered Accountants

Happy New Year from all of us at Waters and Atkinson! We are grateful for your continued support and look forward to what the new year will bring. Wishing you all a year filled with happiness and success! #WatersAndAtkinson #CharteredAccountants #AccountantNorthWest #HappyNewYear

We are taking a well-deserved Christmas break, but don't worry our team will be available between Christmas and New Year. Wishing you all a joyous Christmas! #WatersAndAtkinson #CharteredAccountants #MerryChristmas #HappyNewYear #Morecambe

We have been getting into the festive spirit at the office with some celebrations, including Secret Santa! It has been great to take a little time to enjoy the season together as a team. Wishing everyone a happy and relaxing festive season! #SecretSanta #FestiveSeason #TeamCelebrations #WatersAndAtkinson #CharteredAccountants

Tax-Free Trivial Benefits & Christmas Gifts With the festive season approaching, it is a great time for employers to show appreciation to their teams. Did you know there are ways to give small gifts that are completely tax-free for both you and your employees? Here is a simple guide to trivial benefits and how they can make Christmas gifting easier. What Are Trivial Benefits? Trivial benefits are small perks that do not attract tax or National Insurance. They also do not need to be reported to HMRC, as long as they meet the following rules: · The gift must cost £50 or less per person. · It cannot be cash or a cash voucher (A cash voucher is defined as any voucher, stamp or similar document capable of being exchanged for a sum of money that is greater than, equal to or not substantially less than the expense incurred in providing the voucher by the person who provides it – gift cards are usually not exchangeable for cash therefore are not cash vouchers). · It should not be given as a reward for work or performance. · It cannot be part of the employee’s contract. Christmas Gift Ideas That Qualify Here are some simple, festive gift ideas that fall under the trivial benefits rules: - A box of chocolates, festive biscuits, or a bottle of wine. - A gift card for a coffee shop, supermarket or Amazon up to £50 (as long as it is not cash). - A small seasonal hamper. - Tickets to a festive activity like a light show or ice skating. For company directors, the annual limit for trivial benefits is £300 if you run a close company (5 or fewer shareholders), so you can also treat yourself within the rules. What to Avoid - Cash or Bonuses: These are always taxable. - Gifts over £50: If the cost exceeds £50 (even by a penny), it no longer qualifies as a trivial benefit and becomes taxable. This Christmas, trivial benefits are a simple way to show appreciation while keeping things tax-efficient. A thoughtful, small gesture can go a long way! To find out more, get in touch with us today. #WatersAndAtkinson #CharteredAccountants #ChristmasNetworking #ChristmasGifts #TaxFree

Our team joined our local fellow professionals at the NatWest Bank Christmas Lunch at The Borough in Lancaster yesterday! The food was great as always and we enjoyed the annual Christmas Quiz. Big congratulations to Robyn Snape for winning the Best Christmas Jumper competition. We always look forward to attending the monthly lunches organised by the team at NatWest and the Christmas Lunch is a great way to round off the year in high spirits! Thank you for having us. #WatersAndAtkinson #CharteredAccountants #ChristmasNetworking #ChristmasLunch

Hannah and Agata attended a wreath-making workshop last night organised by TP Financial Solutions at The Lothersdale Hotel. The event was relaxed and fun, with everything needed to create festive wreaths. A big thank you to TP Financial Solutions for organising such a lovely event – it was a great opportunity to network and get creative! #FestiveFun #WreathMaking #WatersAndAtkinson #CharteredAccountants #ChristmasNetworking

Following the Bank of England’s decision to reduce the base rate from 5% to 4.75%, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have announced a reduction in their late payment interest rates. HMRC interest rates track the base rate. Late payment interest (payable if you pay tax late) is set at base rate plus 2.5%. Repayment interest (which HMRC pay you on refunds or overpayments) is set at base rate minus 1%, with a minimum rate of 0.5%. Therefore, the late payment interest rate will reduce to 7.25%. Repayment interest will reduce to 3.75%. The reductions come into effect from the following dates: - 18 November 2024 for quarterly instalment payments; and - 26 November 2024 for non-quarterly instalment payments. See: https://lnkd.in/e9QAQ9G7 #WatersAndAtkinson #CharteredAccountants #InterestRates #Tax #NorthWest

Your Name: Diane Archbold What is your role and what do you enjoy most about job/working at Waters and Atkinson: I am a Client Manager and enjoy the variety of clients I work with, the short commute to work, starting, preparing, and completing accounts, and the firm's flexibility of working hours. How did your career in accountancy begin/what inspired you: I applied for a job when I left school; the rest is history. What do you like doing outside work: Travel, concerts, theatre, meals out, getting together with friends, reading, listening to music, watching films and television. Tell us something about yourself not many people know: I used to sing in a choir. If you weren't an accountant, what would you like to be? I think something like a psychologist/counsellor. #WatersAndAtkinson #CharteredAccountants #MeetTheTeam #Tax #NorthWest

Thanks very much to Robyn Snape for the invitation to enjoy lunch at The Ivy in Manchester with the Leonard Curtis team yesterday. It was a lovely way to start the first of many Christmas festivities! Christopher Gardner Damien Sissons

Another month of catching up with local businesses, charities and clients. This November, we enjoyed meeting with other local businesses at the NatWest Group Professionals' Lunch, we became the helmet and national race sponsor for Eliza BMX and we attended the Annual Quiz organised by Forbes Dawson. We also sponsored and participated in the Unique Kidz and Co "Big Pub Uniq-Uiz of The Year" where our team and others came together for a night of fun, raising much-needed funds for this amazing local charity. #WatersAndAtkinson #CharteredAccountants #NorthWest #MonthInReview #November